Arduino - Laser Tripwire Alarm System

Hello everyone,

In this instructable, we will be building a laser guided tripwire alarm system using a development board.

Step 1: Parts

Components used in this project:

Development board - SainSmart Leonardo R3

Enclosure - Junction Box

Trip wire - Red Dot Laser Diode

Alarm - Buzzer

Sensor - Photoresistor

Power supply - 9v battery

Wire - Male to Female Breadboard Jumper cable

Resistor - 10k

I used an improvised laser diode that was placed on a breadboard that was powered by a 9V battery. Alternatively, a laser pointer will also work well for this project.

Step 2: Assemble

Using a soldering iron, I made two horizontal holes on the junction box to house the photoresistor.

After threading the photoresistor through the junction box, I glued a piece of plastic around it.

This makes it easier to calibrate the sensor in various lighting conditions.

The positive pin from the loudspeaker connects to pin 13 on the development board.

The negative pin from the loudspeaker connects to pin 11 on the development board.

Step 3: Wiring

The photoresistor connects to the 5v pin on the development board.

The remaining pin connects to the analog 0 pin.

A connection between the analog 0 pin and the ground (GND) pin is also established using a 10k resistor.

Before placing the 9V battery inside the enclosure, I used double sided tape to separate it from the development board.

Step 4: Code

int PR = 0; //Analog 0 to Photoresistor
int Loud = 13; //Pin 13 to Loudspeaker

void setup() {

pinMode(PR, INPUT); //Photoresistor is set as an input

pinMode(13, OUTPUT);

pinMode(11, OUTPUT);

Serial.begin(9600);//set serial monitor at 9600 baud

}

void loop() {

int Read = analogRead(PR);// "Read" reads analog0 data

Serial.println(Read);// Print that data

if (Read < 120) //if the value is less than 120 (this can be modified based on your lighting condition),

{

digitalWrite(Loud, HIGH); //speaker turns on

digitalWrite(11, LOW);

}

else //if the value is greater than 120

{

digitalWrite(Loud, LOW);// speaker will turn it off

digitalWrite(11, LOW);

}

delay(1000);//run every second }

Code in Google Drive

Step 5: Done

Once the sensor is calibrated to your prefered setting, you can upload the code and close the junction box.

This version is is calibrated to work in low light conditions.

Although I used 9V batteries for this project, you can also use 5V wall adapters as a permanent solution.

If you want to see this project in action, please click on the link.

Comments

[DylanM109]

Serial monitor is reading that the resistance is changing with the laser however the buzzer isn't making a sound. it is properly connected, do I have a defective buzzer???

[UNSEPARABLE TECHSCIENTIFICS]

Congratulations colleague!!!

[iphillips1]

Would it be possible to make one with a Raspberry Pi, so you could include some more advanced scripts (txt or email notifications), rather than just the buzzer?

[TheRadMan]

@TX: Perhaps the same Ardy could CW "modulate" the Laser Diode and then discriminate on the detector. Could this prevent he laser pointer spoofing-defeat you mentioned? It may mean that the Laser Diode has to be co-located with the Arduino and then a mirror or reflector would be used at the far end for a round trip . I am thinking of using this with a Nano and BluTooth or ZigBee or even Wifi from the lane to the farmhouse; perhaps even two beam pairs to tell in which direction the vehicle or pedestrian is travelling.

[Consider My Solution]

Rad, that's a good direction to take this author's presentation. I'd encourage you to try it in your shop before you hide all your valuables behind your laser protection "wall." :D

[Consider My Solution]

As a simple desktop demonstration, this is a great project for learning.

However, as an author, you owe it to your readers to advise them how ambient light affects your laser triggering.

For instance, what if a "bad guy" shines a flashlight on your sensor and then walks through the area of the beam? Will your alarm sound?

[Dennisv15]

Please dont make this sound as work by taking all the fun out of it :(

[Consider My Solution]

Be nice, Dennis. No sad faces allowed. :)

There are already people commenting about creating their own property perimeter alarms. Shouldn't the author comment about whether (or how) that would work?

[Dennisv15]

Well...being an author myself I say if this author thinks its fun to dig in deeper then yes please do. But no strings attached, its a hobby!

[Zabagar]

convoluted. Terrible directions.

[doctorlock]

this project may be great for aurdino but a infrared laser ldr,light dependant resistor, and a small pc board and 9v battery is simple. circuita abound foe the circuit to recieve the ir light is simple and cheap without ardino and low cost

[Raphango]

Nice!! =D

[John T MacF Mood]

Very nicely done sir!

[chela2]

Great project, What is the max distance between sensor and laser

[John T MacF Mood]

I've seen visually 500 mW red lasers at over 800 feet, so I think with the right calibration (perhaps a variable resistor) you could go that far, and with mirrors you could circle your yard. (Depending of course on if you have a huge yard, build two or three...)

[wingmaster1212]

Just depends how strong your laser is. When just the laser is on see how far it beams out to, then if needed you could also change the code to account for lack of strong light by changing that 120 value in the code to something different to make it more easily read the laser. You'll probably also want to make the photo resistor have more shade around it though.

[Barim Daren S’Blen Mablung]

looks awsome, i would also love to see a silent version

[John T MacF Mood]

Or perhaps, put a wired buzzer inside your home for checking the border (perimeter) of your property. I was thinking of a project like this using IR lasers so the "intruder(s)" would not see the laser...

[fredfow3]

Remove the buzzer, add a light.

[AraC3]

Couldn't you get all these parts from a garage door laser safety unit? Those are cheap to free.